Moravian must rebuild with little experience

A year ago, Moravian's opponents scored an average of 7.6 points in the first quarter.

On most Saturdays last fall, that was already enough to beat the Greyhounds.

Moravian scored just 66 points last season, ranking 232nd out of 235 Division III schools in scoring offense. It was 229th in total offense, averaging 197.8 yards a game. Both totals were among the worst in school history. The Greyhounds were shut out in three games and held to a single field goal in four others, leading to a 2-8 season.

This year, they enter Saturday's opener with Susquehanna without a quarterback who has thrown a collegiate pass. Their leading returning rusher had 77 yards last year. They returned just two starters from an offensive line that surrendered 37 sacks a year ago.

"Challenging" might not be a strong enough word for what Scot Dapp's troops face in his 24th season as Greyhounds coach.

But a new season brings renewed hope, said senior receiver Shawn Sylvanius.

"Coach has tweaked some things, and I think things will work out on offense," said the Nazareth product, who could crack the top 10 in career receiving yards and become the seventh Greyhound with 100 career catches this fall. "During spring ball we really worked our butts off to get back to playing like we can play, like we have played in the past. We weren't very good last year, we know that, and we don't want to feel that way again this year."

"It's not hard to motivate these kids," Dapp added. "They don't want that to happen again. You want to forget what happened last year, but you keep thinking about it, which I wouldn't say is a totally bad thing. The main thing they have to realize is, this is a totally different team, and the only team they're going to be the 2010 Greyhounds. It's what they make of it that they'll remember."

What Sylvanius, who had 28 catches for 370 yards and scored four of the team's six touchdowns, remembers most from last year is a feeling of frustration.

"We had the talent to be what we wanted to be, but we had a lot of mental mistakes," said Sylvanius, who needs 305 receiving yards to crack the top 10 and 26 catches for 100.

"I know it's a game, but it's supposed to be fun. It's frustrating to lose — I know, I played at Nazareth," he added, referring to some tough seasons in high school.

Sylvanius and senior Alex Hersch of Emmaus (19 catches, 262 yards) give the Greyhounds two receiving threats. However, who will be throwing them the ball remains to be seen.

Neither Steve Panasuk nor Andy Polony, who as sophomores took the bulk of the snaps last year, decided to return. Three players — junior Max Coveleski, a quarterback-turned-wide-receiver-turned-quarterback, freshman Phil Garner from Virginia, and freshman Brendan Lesko from Catasauqua — battled for the job through camp.

"Garner's a harder thrower, Lesko's a better runner, and Coveleski's the quickest," Dapp said. "Now, if there was some formula to merge them together … "

"Compared to last year, these guys are way improved," Sylvanius said.

Whoever lines up Saturday under center, Sylvanius knows the seniors need to keep the pressure off them.

"The most important thing is that they be relaxed and comfortable out there," Sylvanius said of the young quarterback. "The seniors have to step up and be the leaders."

"When you have people like Alex and Shawn to throw to, a young quarterback has a feeling of confidence and ease," Dapp said. "When you throw the football near them, you know it's probably going to be caught."

The Greyhounds have a lot more experience on the other side of the football, where seven starters and several backups return including senior ends Allen Petros and Michael McClarin, both from Liberty; junior linebacker Evan Bauer, another Liberty product; and senior cornerback Daniel Burley from Easton.

"Our defense last year was getting better every week, which is what you look for when you have a lot to replace like we did from the previous season," Dapp said.

"We're going to be very good on defense," Sylvanius projected.

Sylvanius said the Greyhounds aren't thinking past the next week's game to determine what would make the season a success.

"Our goal is to be 1-0 every week," he said. "We've been waiting for Susquehanna all spring and all summer. When that game's over, we look at the next one and try to be 1-0 that week. And that's the way we go all year."